Merry Christmas

I know it's been a spotty December, but I'm done work for the rest of the year and the kids are done school. Let the Christmas celebrations begin.

So I leave you with one of my favorite songs redone. The kids are super cute.

Have a very Merry Christmas full of fun, eating, and family, especially family. See you in the new year.

Why I've been gone

It's been a while since I've posted anything. There have been two reasons for my lack of presence from the blogasphere.

1. I haven't had much to say. A few times I've opened a blank blog and searched for something other than the usual. I wanted to be able to impart words of wisdom, encouragement, something. But nothing came besides, wow, this is still really hard (which everyone already knows).

2. I haven't had the time I've wanted to be able to visit your blogs and I'm a big believer in reciprocating. If you comment on my blog, I comment on your blog.

Okay maybe I have three. My kid's basketball schedule has been insane (8 games this weekend alone). But Christmas break is coming and I'm looking forward to some less scheduled days.

Meanwhile here are a few things I've been thinking about.

In person critique groups are awesome. The brain storming that goes on during the three hours we meet every month is invaluable to me.

I absolutely love being a mom and even though it's busy, my favorite time is watching my kids play basketball even though half the time I'm shaking because I'm so nervous for them. And since today is National Hug Your Child Day, I can't wait until I get home to give them a big one.

Speaking of hugging:

I was in the car going to pick my son up from school when I heard the tragic news this weekend and it absolutely broke my heart. Today I read a great post from my friend Heidi that really touched me. She's such a great writer and a great person. Often, I wish we didn't live so far away from each other.

And you are....?

It's been a while since I've done a blog hop, so when I saw Emily King had one going for today, I hopped on.

Here are the ten questions I have to answer.

1. How many speeding tickets have you gotten?

My mind doesn't quite remember my high school years (I've blocked them). I think I may have gotten one or two or four, but I've only had two since I've been married and that's been twenty years.

2. Can you pitch a tent?
I can, but I refuse to. I hate sleeping on the ground.
3. What was your worst vacation ever?

When me and my husband were first married, we went on a rafting trip with a bunch of people we didn't know. We arrived at the hotel only to find out it was a communal room. Needless to say one guy snored so loud, I actually threw my shoe at him and he didn't wake up. Another couple slept naked and let their pet bunny run around the room. I also lost my wallet and it was freezing all weekend. Total trip from hell.

4. What was the last thing you bought over $100?

A pair of boots. It's cold up here in Canada.
5. We're handing you the keys to what?

A brand new house. I'm getting quite sick of mine.

6. What was the last meal you cooked that made even you sick?

I made a casserole that my mom used to make when I was a kid. Potatoes, rice, hamburger, and onions, all covered in a tomato sauce. It was awful and I made way too much. An ice cream bucket full of leftovers stayed in my fridge for a week until I finally threw it all off.

7. Fill in the blank: Oh my gosh! Becky, look at her butt! It is so big. She looks like  ____?

My mom taught me never to say anything mean out loud, but... okay... wait... now I'm all flustered and can't think of anything.

8. What was your first car?

I inherited a chevy blazer when I got married, but our first car together was a Ford Escort.

9. Your best friend falls and gets hurt. Do you ask if he/she's okay or laugh first?

Depends if she's laughing. I'd probably hold my breath for a moment before making a decision. I'm kind of a people pleaser.
10. What's the worst song ever?

Gangnam Style. Seriously. I don't get it.

This was fun. Totally looking forward to reading everyone's answers. If you're interested, see Emily's link at the top of this blog.

So how about you? If you could answer one question on this list, what would it be?

Sometimes People Are Right

So for the past three or four or nine months, I've been suffering from really tight muscles. Calves, hamstring, IT bands, quads, hips – you name it, it's been sore and tight.

And for months my friends have been telling me I need to do yoga, but I've been reluctant. Yoga is boring, yoga is ... okay yoga is just boring. It's all about breathing, and soothe voices telling you to feel the energy flowing through your feet, and to ground your feet. So I've ignored their advice and have remained sore.

Well yesterday was the last straw....

My soccer coach made us play against 13-14 year old girls who had more energy in their pinkies than we 40 and 50 year women had in our whole bodies. Needless to say I was sore this morning. So I relented. I found a youtube video "Yoga for Runners" and decided to give it a try.

While it didn't take away all my tightness (unfortunately yoga's not magic), it did help quite a bit.

How does this relate to writing?

Well to be honest, I've been resistant to reading craft books. In the past I've found them repetitive and had a hard time applying it to my writing.

But I've been very slowly taking the plunge. Three Words. SAVE THE CAT. Yes I'm a little late to jump on this band wagon, but now I know what all the fuss is about. Next on my list is WRITING SCREEN PLAYS THAT SELL by Michael Hague, because I have it from a few reliable sources that it's a keeper.

So how about you? Is there anything you've been resistant to try?

Time to get back at it . . .

I've taken a few weeks off from blogging, but now I'm back on the band wagon.

Sometimes you need that break just to re-evaluate what you're doing, plus I was trying to write a synopsis, which after some help is pretty much done. That is until they ask for an eight page synopsis (mine's two pages - double spaced).

I've also been reading and just finished the second book from Laini Taylor. Daughter of Blood and Daylight. Such a great book. I totally loved it. In fact I tried really hard to prolong it, but in the end, I finished it in two days. It's such a rush reading a book and even though it's satisfying to finish, if it's been a good book, I still feel a little empty

In other news, my boys have started basketball that means 70 basketball games and practices four days a week for the next four months, but you know what? I'm going to enjoy every minute of it, because it ends way too soon. My oldest graduates this year and it makes me a little ill to think of him leaving home next year. So I'm going to every game I can.

So that's been my life; working, reading, writing. and family. What's been up with you for the past two weeks?

Query Done - Synopsis... Um

Hopefully not too many of you are suffering from election hangover. I must admit that even though I'm from Canada I found the election really interesting. Thank goodness I didn't have to decide.

Anyway, I need a bit of advice (if you have any). My query is done, but now I'm working on a synopsis. I did a bit of research yesterday and all I really gleaned is that there are no hard rules when it comes to writing one, which was really helpful (they really need a sarcastic emoticon). 

So I did the best I could with my first draft. I tried to get most of the main characters in there even if it was just a quick mention of their name and how they relate to the main character. I talked about setting, goals, hidden goals, turning points, climax, but the end has me a little stump. Short of writing, "And they lived happily ever after," I'm not sure what to put after everything has been resolved.

Any ideas or advice on writing on synopsis? How do you wrap it all up without sounding like a cliche?

Friday Favorites

I've been sick this week, which was a good thing, because I got to sleep late and write all afternoon. The result – two chapters written with one to be written today. Fingers crossed.

A second thing this week is this contest Beth Revis is having. Have you seen the books she's giving away. Amazing!!!

But she asked that you post about why you Love YA, so here it goes.

I love YA because it's a time when you still have all your hopes and dreams. Not that you don't have hopes and dreams as an adult, it's just that reality sinks in a little more the older you get. There's still so much you get to experience (first love, first kiss, first job). So many firsts.

Or maybe it's because being a teen is all about figuring out who you are and I still feel like I'm trying to do that.

How about you? Why do you write what you write?